Public interest disclosures (whistleblowing): key differences in Scotland and Northern Ireland

Updating author: William Granger, Wedlake Bell, consultant editor (Scotland): Gillian MacLellan, consultant editor (Northern Ireland): Gareth Walls

Future developments

Scotland: There are no future developments specific to Scotland.

Northern Ireland: On 1 July 2024, the Department for the Economy launched a consultation: The "Good Jobs" Employment Rights Bill. The consultation seeks views on proposals aimed at "strengthening employment legislation" which may progress under an Employment Bill and supporting secondary legislation. The consultation proposes that "prescribed persons" would be required to produce an annual report that would include information relating to the number of disclosures received by an organisation. It is proposed that this reporting mechanism would allow for greater scrutiny and transparency of "prescribed persons" and the processes for handling whistleblowing disclosures. The consultation closed on 30 September 2024. 

The Employment Rights Bill, which was introduced to the UK Parliament on 10 October 2024, does not extend to Northern Ireland.

Scotland

The law relating to public interest disclosures that applies in England and Wales extends to Scotland.